There was a strange pair of friends near a rock on a mountain. One was a lion and the other was a tiger. They had grown up together as cubs, so they did not know their differences. They just enjoyed each other’s friendship, playing, running and hunting together. Everyone thought this must be due to the influence of the good old hermit who lived on the mountain and brought peace to all things around him.
But one day, the two friends got into a very foolish argument. They were arguing about why weather turns cold. The tiger said that it becomes cold when the moon waxes from a new moon to a full moon. “No, no,” said the lion, “You’re wrong. It becomes cold when the moon wanes from a full moon to a new moon.”
“Rubbish,” argued the tiger, “You are an idiot! I know that’s not true! It turns cold when the moon waxes. Everyone says that.”
“Nonsense,” said the lion, “I know I’m right. It becomes cold when the moon wanes. You are just a silly fool!”
They argued and they argued, but they found no solution. They did not wish to break their friendship. Finally, they decided to go to the wise old hermit on the mountain. He was sure to know the correct answer. So, off they went to him.
They found the hermit meditating on a rock. Bowing before him, they waited for him to notice them. Soon he opened his eyes and found the tiger and the lion waiting patiently before him. They bowed again and said that they had a problem and hoped he could guide them.
Both of them put across their views to the hermit. “O Revered One, please tell us which of us is correct?” they asked.
The hermit closed his eyes once again. After a while, he opened them and said, “Children, it is not the moon that brings cold. Whether the moon waxes or wanes, it has nothing to do with cold. It is the wind, blowing from the north or east, west or south that brings cold. Perhaps you are both right. You thought it was the moon that brought cold! But there is something else that does not change like seasons.”
The tiger and the lion looked at each other, puzzled. “What is that, O Revered One? Please tell us,” they asked.
“Friendship such as yours. It creates happiness and unity.” The friends bowed to the hermit and went back happily.
